Knitting apparatus.



TA KOPPA KNITTING APPRATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.8,191S. lyl, Paeuted Dec. 8, 1916.

,3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T. KOPP.

v KNITTING APPARATUS.

l APPLICATION F|LED PR.8| 1,918. ,f?h86,349. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 THEODURE KOPP. Gia-PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

KNITTING APPARATUS. l

Spccication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

Application led .April 8, 1918. Serial No. 227,271.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDonE Korr, a citizen of United States,-residing at 633 Girard avenue, Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knitting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to knitting machines and has for an object to provide an apparatus for knitting various kinds of yarns or threads into material, the operation being of a very simple nature to effect the desired result and one in which the parts of the apparatus cannot readily get out of order.

Among other features my invention comprehends a knitting apparatus that may be adapted to produce various kinds of fabric and of-various designs. With it any simple form of chain or other cross loop stitch can be employed to produce a fabric and if desirable a filler can also be employed, it being further understood the machine is particularly designed and adapted to accommodate various kinds and characters of yarns. M

To effect the desired results I provide a plurality of opposed sets of needles through which the thread or yarn is carried, and which in the operation of the machine cooperate to entwine or intermesh thestrands of yarn, with suitable adjustable means for increasing or decreasing the tension of the yarn, and controlling the feeding of the yarn 1n the continued operation of the machine,` certain of the needles being also movable,

transversely of other needles to operlap various stitches or strands of yarn in order to form the knots, meshes or loops necessaiiy. to produce the I desired design, knit and strength of the finished produce. i

My machine is so designed that it may be particularly adapted to work at home by individuals who need not necessarlly be skilled, but of course it vwill vbe understood that the machine can also be constructed on a larger scale for use in textile factories, for the manufacture of large textile fabrics.

In the further disci` sure of the invention, reference is to be had to the'aecompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference dencote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the knit.- ting apparatus, several parts being shown in their inoperative positions. i

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking to the right of Fig. 1.

F ig..-1 is a vertical sectional elevation, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the initial position of a pair of needles preparatory to making the stitch.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 7 is a similar View to Fig. 5, but

showing the right-hand needle rocked over to form the loop or stitch.

Fig. 8 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary -view showing the completed stitch. y

Fig. l0 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 11 is a detail showing the chain stitch fortned by any pair of interwoven threads.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary. view showing the weave, when the shifterhereinafter rcferred to, is moved to produce a continuous piece 'of fabric.`

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing a form of material produced by the machine, and having a face appearance resembling a chain stitch.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to l, the numeral 10 designates a base plate of any appropriate material or size, and which is adapted for clamping to a table or other suitable piece of furniture, to hold the apparatus in place. Mounted to extend laterally at each side of the aforesaid base plate l0 are leaves 11 which constitute stops, as

hereinafter described. Mounted on these leaves 11 are rockable frames 12, said frames including uprights 13 braced together by spacing bars or rods 14. These frames 12 as will be clearly seen from Fig. 1, are reversely opposed to onel another, and at or near their lower parts are'secured laterally projecting tables or leaves 15, said leaves 15 having formed integral therewith, or appropriately securedr to their,I upper outer ends, spa-ced projections 16 which'constitute combs through which' the materials to be woven are v being under the action or control of springs v20 conveniently seciu'cd in any suitable manner beneath the aforesaid leaves 15.

On reference more particularly to Figs. l and 3, it will be clearly seen that these trames 17 serve to tirmly retain the thread in position, and in order to provide for the.

easy adjustment of sajd frames to accommodate threads ormaterials' of various sizes, I provide the. limbs 19 with adjusting screws 21, so that the gage may be accurately adjusted. AMounted on upstanding projections 22 on the frames 17 I pivotally connect they tensioning device 23 which preferably includes a tublilar section 24 and spaced arms or levers This tensioning device is made tubular in order to aceomomdate weights 26 ot' various .lengths so that the tension on the threads may he aecuratel' adjusted. Xt the upper ends of the frames 12 and transverselyY thereof. l' adjustably mount bars 27, said hars 2T being lformed ot' segu'lental cross section and adapted for clamping inanydc.- sircd position by the nut-s 2S. One of these bars 27, for example. the left-hand one of the drawings, has secured thereto a battery ot' needles 29. and the right-hand one ispro-y vided with a slide or shifter 30 which in turn carries the opposed series o'l" needles 91. These needles 29, 3l are. formed, as will be more clearly seen in Figs. 5 to 10, with a fiat side 32, and a tapered or curved point 33, said needles also being formed with a notched out part 3l on the aforesaid flat sides In order to porvide a ready means for removing or replacing the needles 29, 31

they are preferably clamped to the bars 2i' by clamping plates 35, fashioned at their ends with finger holds 36and provided at their rear partswith combs 37. These bars 35 are convenient-ly held in, place by clamping nuts 38. Adjustable `ktops are. provided in connect-ion with tid suporting trame and they serve to limit theoscillation ofthe rockin frames 1 2 toward dachother, whereas, adjustable stops 39 limit the outward movement of the said fiames, 'and said frames 12 are pivoted at 10 to the leaves 11.

Any appropriate means may be employed.

for keeping'the weaving material taut. auch asy one or more weights Aill which can he attached in any of the well-known ways to the end of the threads or the Woven fabric.

Assuming that the apparatus is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, the user first removes the frames 17' and then passes the tlneads 42, 43 through the kkneedles 29,.

31, over the combs B7, and`l down onto the leaves l5, and then draws each'individunl thread through the combs 16,- takingc that said threads are not allowed to cross, one another. The frames 1.7 are then'replaced, when the threads will assume the pnsition shown in F ig. 1, and after the' weiy l t' 41 have. been attached to the of. the' threads depending from tn 29, 31, the apparatus is theureally for use.

In orderto more .clearly ande id function of the stitch,`1w.ll new descrito the same in connection with one pair of opposed needles 29, 31,. as shown in liligs. 5 to 10 inclusive, it. being readily understood that the entire battery will operate simultaneously.

Assuming the left hand frame 12, is in the position shownl in Figs. 1 and 4, that is to say, it has been moved -backward until the leaf 15 hascontacted'with the' stops 39, and lrccoiledunder the :tion ofthe spring 20, which causes the tension device 23 to descend and draw forward a feed of thread. The operator now swingsv the right hand frame 12, on its pivots L10,- toward the left hand,"and as theneedle 31 approaches the needle 29, the tapered and `33 thereof .isy passed to the he th d 42, by slightly moi tue dei anc.; over the notched-ont. part Si of the needle 29, there-l lxy'forniing the loop .llurinrg this opera tion th right 'l ised t, the posit' i on 'tr l vturn morena' har-.d iframe 12, the loop -lfl is c. i r hv the needle 31 to the position shown l Y 5 and 6. lThe let't hand traine is no y moved over'toi' ward' the righi'. hand, and the point 32 of the. needlezll, caused to the :iotched-o'ut part ot e ne' l l up the loop 14, which o; f the thread El to he hi-sad 42, as

both train are moved l carrying the. loop il I se time holding up the left ha A1e right hand trame l2 `is now recited bach on to the sto 39, drawing the complewd loop or vstitch il haelt with it to the position f own in Figs. 9 and 10., whereupon the lett hand needle 29, is movedfto the right luuid to pick up afresh loop, and the see-saw opera-.tion above described continued, thereby producing a continuous rope of' knitted material -as shown in Fig. 11.

To produce a fabric on my improved knit- Y ting apparatus., I first setup a seriesof loops or stitches 4l Aon the needles 29 whereupon l move the. shifter alone' the ar 27, with the, points vof the needles 31 in .Contact with the threads 42 at 16, 7, over one or more'needles 29., and then cou'iplete the stitch, as above described, which will producee type of chain stitch open work, shown in Fig. 12. This movement of the shifter is alternatelyI7 to and fro in order to produce a uniform pattern.

lhelreiv l1. nd

i 'y almost indefinitely,

meas-1e In some instances I may wish to use a filler of weftl thread or threads, said weft thread or threads as indicated by thevnumerals 4?, 48 in Fig. 13, being-threaded through or over the loops lul, as will be obvious; moreover, by the use of these weft threads the fabric produced may have any desiree` degree of firmness or pattern.

'Althcugh I have thus briefly outlined certain types of fabric which may be'readyily woven with my improved.'knitting apparatus, l. wish itf clearly understood that the patterns of the fabrics may be varied as by the employment of colored threads, or a combination of various kinds and thicknesses of materials.

lVhille I have described one particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be clearly understood that the details of construction may be varied within considerable limits without departing from the spirit and scope of my said invention, for instance` the rocking ofthe frames 12', as well as the movement of the shifter 30, may be effected mechanically.

It will now be seen that with a construction of the character described, the various adjustable parts cooperate to insure the' proper feeding of the yarn, for instance, by means of the combs 1G and the clamping frames 17, together with the tensioning devices, the clampingr frames being adjustable to constitute with the tensioning devices suitable Varn tensioningT or feed-controlling means. .Furtheig the tension on the yarn can he regulated or controlled by the insertion of the weights 26 in the tubular sections 24, the weights being of different calibers for different sizes'or degrees of thickness of yarn. It will be' seen that the bars 27 together with their associated parts formingr needle carriers or frames for the needles` can be adjusted relative to each other. and this is a highly desirable feature in the use and ope-ration of the machine, each needle frame, being independently adjustable on the main or rockable frames which include the uprights 13 having the needle frames mounted thereon. ln the feeding of the 'yarn it will be apparent. by reference to Fig. 4,.that when the device is in operation one of the tensioning elements riding up on the yarn as it is pulled taut, will tend to hold the, same in ltension, but this will also cause an upward movement ofthe frame associated with the comb so :is lo permit the'yarn to' slide through the'comb, while. at the same time it will be kept in tension by the tensioning device mentioned heretofore.

' rl`herefme. it will be seen that the machine described when taken in its entirety, and also in its detail parts, is indeed of a simple construction, whereby the parts cannot readily. ,get ont of order, and whereby they can easily be replaced when worn, or should they accidentally become broken, andiit will be further clear that bythe simplicity of construction the operation is made more simple, and thus in a short time it will be possible with a machine of this character, for an unskilled person to operate the niachine to produce Ap'actical results, namely, designs and configurationsof fabric, whose tensile strength, closeness of weave, thickness of material, and mesh, are all within the control of the operator and the machine. in order to produce a highlycommercial finished article.

I claim: y c

1. A machine of the character described comprising a base, a. plurality of 'frames mounted to swing onthe base, tables mounted to swing with frames and carried thereby, needle carriers on 'the frames, means for positioningr the yarn on the tables to guide the same over and into engagement with the needles, needles on the carriers, tensioning devices for tensioning] the yarn, meansyfor varying the tensioning effect of said tensioning devices on the yarn, means for relatively adjustingr the dedle carriers on the frames, and means forli insuring the feeding of the yarn across the tables and to the needles on the needle carriers, when the tensioning' devices are operated by the inclinations of the needle carrier frames.

2. Ainachine of the character described comprisingF a base, frames mounted to swing on the base. yarn tables mounted to swing with the frames and having the yarn stretched thereover, needle carriers on said frames and independently adjustable thereon, guides for guiding the yarn to the needle carriers, needles on said needle carriers and having' the yarn associated therewith, and adjustable tensioning and holdingA devices on said tables and associated with the yarn for holding,r the yarn in tension, and for insuring the feeding of the yarn to said needles when said frames are actuated.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a base, opposed frames mounted to swin,gr on the base, needle carriers on said frames. one of said needle carriers being` movable transversely of the other, needles on said needle carriers with the needles on one needle carrier adapted to overlap the needles on the other needle carrier when the rames are relatively operated, tables movable with said frames, means on said tables and said frames for guiding' the yarn te the needles, spring-actuated clamps holding the yarn on the tables, and tensioning devices movahly mounted on the tables and bearing;1 against the yarn to hold the yarn in tension.

el. A machine of the character described con'iprising a base, opposed fran'ies mounted to swiner on thefbase, needle carriers on said frames, one offlsaidfnecdle carriers being movable transversely of the other, needles one needle carrier adapted i0 Overlap the needles on the other needle Carrier when die frames are relativelyv operated, tables movable withsaid frames, means on said tables and lsaid frames for guiding the :yarn to the needles, springmctuated clamps holding rhe yarn on the tables, tensioning devices movably vmounted on the tables and bearing against the yarn to hold the yarn in tension, and means for varying' the degree of vtension of said tensioning devices.

A machine of the character described comprisingr a base, frames mounted 'te swing on' the base, tables carried by the frames to swiner therewithv` needle carriers on said frames. one vof said needle carriers being movable 'on one of said frames, means 'for s tretehing the yarn over said tables and said needle carriers to .said needles, means for limiting the movement of the fames toward each @timex means for limitinf e the frames away from vili r, d iensioninl;v devices on the tables a e ine` the varn to hold the saine in te G. A machine of the character s' comprising' a base, frames mountei'l -v on the base, tables carried by the fra swinzg1r therewith, needle Carriers on i. frames, one of` said needle carriers being movable on oneJ of said frames, means Stretching the yarn over .seid tables and maid needle carriers to said needle, means for lim.- iting the. `movement of the frames toward eaeh other, means for limiting the movemen;A 35 of the frames away from each other; tensioning' devices on the tables and engaging he yarn to hold the same in tension, and'menifi for varying the degree of tension of s tensioning devices.

In testimony whereof I aliix my sigrnalnve,

` THEODDRE Il'lrf, 

